A PARK TO BELIEVE IN

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Team Project with Felixx Landscape Architecture

Role: Urban Planner and Designer International Design Competition (2015, Tirana, Albania)

The Context

“A Park to Believe In” is the outcome of the collaboration between POLIS University and Felixx (NL), a landscape architecture partner studio, on the framework of the “Park of Faith” International Design Competition. The competition was organized by the National Territorial Planning Agency (AKPT), the Ministry of Urban Development and the Ministry of Culture, and it was inspired by the noblest of religious harmony value, that Albanians share with others and the world, focusing on the open public spaces along the so – called “Martyrs of the Nation” Boulevard in the capital, Tirana.

The main purpose of the competition was to receive design proposals that would transform the linear open spaces of the boulevard, as well as other pockets of green spaces, into landscape representations of the noblest cultural values that Albanians share through faith, which is not only related to religious harmony, but harmony in general, as well. This was considered to be a unique opportunity to improve the city central public spaces through landscape design actions that seek spiritual comfort and contemplation.

About The Project

Tensions among religions, and between religions and society, are from all times and not only far away, but also in the close enviromentns. Currently Albania seems to be an exception within this field, where different religions peacefully coexist and are harmoniously embedded in the society. But this coexistence is a delicate and fragile condition, and even in Albania there are small signs of tensions. Therefore the proposal aims to not fuel religion as an individual aspect of society, but rather subvert the peculiar character of coexistence in Albania, by cherishing the current embedding of religions in the Albanian society and safeguarding their mutual coexistence and interconnection with educational, cultural and social functions in the future.

Having said that, the boulevard is seen as a collective space which shouldn’t just symbolise and collect achievements of the past, nor should it become a space exclusively dedicated to historical celebration, and nor should it become a sheer celebration of the existing coexistence, at the risk of being soon a remembrance of the past. It should instead develop an inspiring perspective on how to capitalize all current dynamics and energy and embed coexistence in the city of the future. Instead of a park of believes, the proposal sees the boulevard as a park to believe in! To believe in the future. To believe in Albania, because that’s what Albanians do.

Therefore the design strategy looks to the future also in relation to fundamental issues that are currently at the centre of important discussions concerning cities’ sustainable development.

From this perspective, the Park, object of the competition becomes an occasion to address global urbanization issues regarding water, health, mobility, energy and waste. Landscapes can sustain and regenerate ecosystem services (benefits provided by natural ecological processes, like air cooling and filtration, water management etc.) while offering spaces for social interaction education and leisure activities (psychological wellbeing).

Starting from its historical core, Tirana can become the example of a sustainable city where landscape’s resiliency guarantees a healthy and aesthetically pleasing environment.

• The parks become green and blue engines, integrating all measures to climate proof the city and transform it into a healthy place.

• The Boulevard axis and related parks serve as a platform for society, allowing for the celebration of past, current and future heroes.

• Moreover they become the infrastructural engine of the city, establishing pedestrian and bike networks, becoming the connector of a future public transport system. Lastly, the scale of the project requires an integrated process, involving different parties.

Therefore, the project is set up as a masterplan, consisting of independent projects and frameworks on different scales, where each project requires collaboration with specific stakeholders. They can be developed separately and/ or phased, but they share one ambition: creating the “park of the future” in Tirana.

No Grand Plan

Instead a masterplan, consisting of independent projects and frameworks on different scales, where each project can be developed separately or in phases.

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